7 concrete steps you can take to radically improve your life this year

Create radical change this year. Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images for lululemon athletica Now that the holiday craziness has finally quieted down and we are settling back into our daily routines, it's the perfect opportunity to make this your best year of all time.

It might seem like a pipe dream, but it is within your grasp to create radical change this very year. That it's possible has been scientifically proven, and plenty of entrepreneurs have done it before.

Following these seven steps will help you become very best version of yourself in 2017:

1. Get really specific

Ah, New Year's Resolutions. They sound great on paper, but if we're being brutally honest, many of us have probably already had a slip up (or ten). If you're having trouble, you're not alone — studies have found that only 8 percent of people actually accomplish them.

To become an exception in 2017, you need to get specific. Science has found that people who state when and where they'll accomplish their goals have double the success rate for achieving them. For instance, you're no longer going to "lose weight"; you're going to shed 30 pounds this year by exercising daily after work.

To the ultra-successful, a goal isn't a vague aspiration; it's a specific action with concrete steps.

2. Learn how to (actually) recharge

Fatigue. Insomnia. Health problems. Lost concentration. Those are just some of the symptoms of burnout, which plagues millions of workers every year.

If you're feeling stressed and overworked, this is the year to finally end it for good. Harvard research indicates that "Our brains need a rest as much as our bodies do." And the best way to do this is to actually unplug before and during work.

Consider actually leaving work by not checking your email, and focusing on something relaxing instead. During the workday, take a break every hour or so, and even take a walk outside.

3. Cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset

You don't have to own a business (or even work in a startup) to be an entrepreneur — being an entrepreneur is a mindset, and if you aren't thinking that way already, it's time to get on board.

According to Forbes, "being entrepreneurial is essentially about thinking and doing something that we have not done before. It is about assessing a situation, designing alternatives, and choosing a new way — or perhaps a combination of ways ."

You do not need to invent a new app to be innovative — just start thinking outside of the box. Start trusting your instincts and thinking bravely — you have the entrepreneur in you, you just have to be willing to give it a try.

With even 20 pages a night, you can become a constant learner, and reap the benefits of expanding your mindset and your knowledge. If you're looking for some book choices, luckily the ultra-successful aren't shy about sharing their favorite reads.

5. Reevaluate your relationships

...And I'm not just talking about romantic ones. The power of people is immense — and their influence on us is even bigger. The New York Times found that friends can have a bigger emotional impact than your spouse, and that negative ones can drag down your entire life.

When you look out at your own audience, who do you see? Is the front row cheering for you? Are they helping you reach your goals? Do they inspire you?

It is time to let go of the people in your life that are not routing for your success — and if you can't let them go, it's definitely time to stop worrying about them.

6. Practice being your future self

Quite simply, to become that ideal, future version of yourself, you need to practice being it in 2017.

According to Peter Bregman, CEO and leadership expert, in the Harvard Business Review, "You need to spend time on the future even when there are more important things to do in the present and even when there is no immediate apparent return to your efforts."

Whether you want to get in better shape or start a business, it's not going to happen overnight. Instead of waiting for this change, start prioritizing and scheduling bite—size improvements today, no matter how busy you are.

7. Be persistent

This is your year. No matter what you are reaching for, whether it be a promotion, a new business venture or a healthier lifestyle, keep on at it until you get there, because you need to be your best cheerleader.

The good old saying of "mind over matter" hasn't stuck around for no reason— have it in your head that you will achieve your goals this year, and when you get to an obstacle, find a different route. Everything in life seems impossible, until it isn't.